Federal Funding for Early Learning and Child Care

On August 13, 2021, the Government of Saskatchewan and the Government of Canada signed two agreements:

1. Canada-Saskatchewan Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement
2. Canada-Saskatchewan Bilateral Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, which includes a one-time workforce development funding in 2021-22.

Canada-Saskatchewan Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement 

This historic $1.1-billion agreement will support an early learning and child care system in Saskatchewan based on the following principles:

• Affordability – Reduce out-of-pocket parent fees for regulated child care spaces for children under age six by an average of 50 per cent from 2019 levels by the end of December 2022 and further reduce fees to an average of $10/day by the end of fiscal year 2025-26.
• Access – Increasing the number of regulated spaces in the province by 28,000 by 2026.
• Inclusive – Support inclusive programming for children that require additional supports to access early learning programs, as well as vulnerable children and children from diverse populations. Also work collaboratively with First Nations and Métis partners to ensure Indigenous children have access to affordable, high-quality, and culturally appropriate early learning and child care.
• Quality – Develop and implement a wage grid and invest in training opportunities to build a qualified workforce to support the developmental outcomes of young children.

Four-year Canada-Saskatchewan Bilateral Early Learning and Child Care Agreement

Saskatchewan also signed the 2021-2025, four-year, $68.5-million extension of the Canada-Saskatchewan Bilateral Early Learning and Child Care Agreement including an additional $17.2-million workforce funding in 2021-22. The key actions will include the following:

• Accessibility – Expand access to high quality child care programs (includes Family Resource Centres)
• Inclusivity – Opportunities for preschool aged children experiencing disability
• Minority language inclusion – Francophone early learning and child care
• Quality – Enhance early learning and child care experiences for children
• Administration – Support the ongoing operations of investments under the Agreement.

Workforce Development Funding

The workforce development funding included:

• Increased support for Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) – a one-time enhancement to the operational funding child care centres receive to allow child care centres to enhance wages of certified ECEs.
• Building a qualified workforce – Investments in formal post-secondary education that leads to Early Childhood Educators (ECE) certification in Levels I, II, and III.
• Continuous professional learning and skills enhancement – Development and delivery of opportunities to support the professional learning needs and interests of the regulated child care sector.

Results and Reports

The previous bilateral agreements (2017-18 to 2020-21) between the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan helped support Saskatchewan children get the best start in life. The agreements allocated just over $56 million, over four years, to Saskatchewan for early learning and child care investments. In August 2021, the Canada-Saskatchewan Bilateral Early Learning and Child Care Agreement was extended until 2024-25 providing for continued investment in Saskatchewan for children under the age of six.

The full agreements are available through the Government of Canada.

As committed to under the Canada-Saskatchewan Bilateral Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, Saskatchewan will annually report the results and expenditures of the early learning and child care programs and services developed through the agreements.

• View the 2021-22 Report
• View the 2020-21 Report
• View the 2019-20 Report
• View the 2018-19 Report
• View the 2017-18 Report

Saskatchewan has committed to report the results and expenditures of the workforce development funding under the Canada-Saskatchewan Bilateral Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.

• View the 2021-22 Report

As committed to under the Canada-Saskatchewan Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, Saskatchewan will annually report the results and expenditures of the early learning and child care programs and services.

• View the 2021-22 Report

Investments through the Agreements have resulted in more child care options, new programming options that allow for greater access and flexibility for families and improved quality in our early learning and child care sector. The funding supported the creation of: